Biofeedback

Post Reply New Topic

Ok, so I am getting tested in 2 weeks.

however the Dr. talked to my mom and wants me to try biofeedback to get rid of or lessen the autstic symptoms. I of course freaked out. I don't want it to change who i am.

What do you think? have you ever hear about biofeedback for autism?

I think biofeedback would primarily treat anxiety symptoms, by allowing you to control your breathing and heart rate. That could decrease some autistic symptoms as well. Learning biofeeback wouldn't get rid of all your symptoms or change who you fundamentally are.

Right - my wife tried it for a while. It just trains tou to control the reactions and lessen the pressures, it is not a new operating system.

my weighted blanket helps calms me down really quick, might just stick with that then.

Hey Caligirl,

Biofeedback did not work for me. However, I think the point of biofeedback is provide coping mechanism to deal with your symptoms, e.g., knowing when you are about to have a bad anxiety attack and being able to ward it off with breathing exercises.

But, I hear you concern. I would never want to change who I am. BTW I used to be a SoCal Boy ... now I live in the wheat fields of Eastern Washington. Go figure.

I have been considering for my son, since his anxiety is pretty bad.

Mir

Just my opinion, but if a Dr said that biofeedback could cure autistic symptoms, then that Dr is a quack. Quacks will often refer to case studies, leaders in the field and innovative approaches, but not refer to medical journals or text books.

If the Dr referred to symptoms that are not specific to autism, like anxiety or concentration, then biofeedback might be a useful training exercise, in combination with a behavioural therapy.

I'm curious. Did she find it beneficial? So far the parents I've known who have tried it for their kids have considered it pretty much a nothing results wise. And it is expensive.

To the OP: I don't think you need to fear that this would change anything about who you are, just maybe help you with a few things about yourself that you would be happy to gain more control over. It's more an issue, to me, of if it works. Parents get a little stressed when they have to spend a lot of money, and there is a serious question as to if your family will see the value from it that they are hoping for. If your parents have money to burn, go for it; I'm not under the impression that it is unpleasant or stressful. Just, maybe, not worth as much as people hope for.

You know, we do have our own inbuilt biofeedback systems. I guess that aspies find them harder to tune into. Just take some time to really 'listen' to your body, all the information is there.

I've found meditation to help a lot with anxiety related to sensory issues.

I went in for this for massive migraine headaches. What a joke!

They expected me to "relax" (IE, not move, breath, anything), to learn how to make them go away. They told me to get a fountain to help me relax (which actually just drove me insane with the incessant noise) and I paid big bucks for it.

It did absolutely nothing. The headaches were caused by medications, I later found out, but what a bunch of nonsense.

Your doctor doesn't sound like he/she knows just what they are talking about.